CARICOM UPDATE--DRUGS, DISASTERS, ECONOMIC

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000040

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: PREL SNAR ETRD EAGR GY CARICOM
SUBJECT: CARICOM UPDATE--DRUGS, DISASTERS, ECONOMIC
INTEGRATION TOP AGENDA

REF. A. PORT OF SPAIN 000039

B. 05 GEORGETOWN 001317


1. SUMMARY: Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick
Manning, speaking as chairman of CARICOM, identified drug
control, disaster preparedness, and deeper regional
integration as key issues facing the organization. He also
announced January 30 date for the signing ceremony for the
Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME). END SUMMARY.


2. In a January 10 press conference held at CARICOM
Secretariat with President Jagdeo and CARICOM Secretary

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General Edwin Carrington, Manning identified the regional
drug trade, and the corresponding influx of arms, as a
security issue that will command CARICOM's agenda in the
coming year. Manning also identified a need for greater
cooperation among regional law enforcement officials.


3. On the subject of natural disasters, Manning stated that
disasters elsewhere in the world draw attention away from
what some view as the "insignificant Caribbean". He urged
the region to examine ways to protect itself against
hurricanes such as those that have impacted Grenada, the
Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize and Haiti in recent years.


4. Issues of economic integration will also be front and
center during Manning's tenure as chairman. Ref A reported
Manning's condemnation of PetroCaribe and his warning that
Trinidad may cease to export oil to PetroCaribe
participants. Locally, at the opening of the 20th meeting of
the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on
January 12, Minister of Foreign Trade and International
Cooperation, Clement Rohee formally recommended that the
CARICOM Secretariat make a proposal to COTED for member
states to be compensated as a result of breaches in the
rules governing the suspension of the Common External Tariff
(CET). A GOG press release reported that Guyana may take
alleged breaches of the CARICOM's Common External Tariff on
rice to the Caribbean Court of Justice. A COTED working
document reportedly cites Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados,
Belize, Jamaica and Grenada for failing to provide import
data on rice for January to June 2005 and includes numerous
instances of failure to apply the CET to rice imports from
the U.S. As the region's largest rice producer, Guyana ahs
long advocated greater enforcement of the CET.


5. Manning also announced a June 30 signing ceremony in
Jamaica for the Caribbean Single Market Economy. This
appears to be a slippage from the January 23 date given by
Secretary General Edwin Carrington at a press conference in

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December (reftel B). This may be due to the failure of
members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS),to join by December 31, 2005 as anticipated. The
OECS members--Anitigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent, Dominica,
Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia--are reportedly
concerned about trade concessions on commodities such as
wheat flour and beer under Article 56 of the revised CARICOM
treaty and the establishment of a regional development fund.
President Jagdeo also urged OECS states to sign on to the
treaty.

BULLEN